Garden Photo of the Day

Turning a Pool Into a Garden

Connecticut resident Suzie shows how her garden has transformed after a decade of hard work and love.

Today’s photos are of Suzie Hoyt’s garden in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Over the past 10 years she has been transforming her yard into a beautiful garden. She and her family have done all the work themselves.


Spring in my backyard, looking from the deck of the house. This area used to be an in-ground pool with a yard. Long story short, the pipes burst in an exceptionally cold winter, and we decided to take out the pool. This is what I decided to replace it with. The structure around the pond in the center of the photo is to prevent the fish from becoming the heron’s lunch.


This may be the cutest “before” photo ever! This is the yard with the pool as it was before Suzie started turning it into her garden. Suzie’s husband is mowing the lawn, while her oldest son (who is now 25) helps out from behind.

Summer in the garden means lush shrubs and perennials.

A simple path through the garden beckons you on, inviting you in to explore.

Another path through the garden, lined with dense plantings of flowering perennials.

Another spring view, looking out to the rest of the garden. Not all the yard has been transformed into perennial plantings; a grassy play area for children remains.

Fish in the garden pond. The grid of string over the water protects the fish from hungry herons.

The side yard. It is shadier here but still full of plants and color.

 

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Comments

  1. garden1953 11/26/2018

    Very beautiful and so much better than a pool!

    1. Swimmergirl 11/26/2018

      Thanks so much!!

  2. User avater
    meander_michaele 11/26/2018

    Hi, Suzie, what a wonderful transformation and evolution. I don't think you'll find any dissenters here in GPOD land that you made an inspired choice to go from swimming pool to garden delights and fish pond. And, heaven knows, the garden provides lots of opportunities to be outside and getting exercise for more months out of the year than a swimming pool. Everything looks beautiful.

    1. Swimmergirl 11/26/2018

      Thank you

  3. User avater
    treasuresmom 11/26/2018

    Wow! Just beautful!

    1. Swimmergirl 11/26/2018

      Thank you

  4. user-6290599 11/26/2018

    A beautiful garden, thanks for sharing! How did you fill-in/get rid of the pool?!

    1. Swimmergirl 11/26/2018

      We purchased an old backhoe, learned how to use it, and tore out the liner and ‘pool parts’ - getting rid of them in a dumpster. Then we purchased clean fill to fill in the hole.

  5. wittyone 11/26/2018

    Golly, talk about an attractive nuisance. This is just gorgeous. I love the winding stone pathways and the golf ball. Who's the golfer in the family? It's good that whoever it is allotted at least some time and labor toward the transformation of the pool.

    1. Swimmergirl 11/26/2018

      My husband is the golfer ?

  6. btucker9675 11/26/2018

    Absolutely beautiful garden!

    1. Swimmergirl 11/26/2018

      Thank you

  7. cheryl_c 11/26/2018

    Thanks so much for posting these pictures. The stone path is so inviting, and the transformation you've made is awesome. I especially liked the third from last picture that gave us an overview of the layout. Very nicely done!

    1. Swimmergirl 11/26/2018

      Thank you

  8. paiya 11/26/2018

    Beautiful garden, so interesting wondering what's around the next curve in the path. Is your son still an avid mower?

    1. Swimmergirl 11/26/2018

      We are moving to the next section and expanding the pathway to a patio (I need to do something with all the brick I pulled up from around the pool!!)

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